Evidence that demands our attention

As we discussed yesterday, by the time Stolba’s book was published the evidence was overwhelming that, based on current knowledge of Ugaritic and Hebrew music notation, Western music did not start in the West, but rather in the Near East.  If they had listened to Plato, music historians could possibly have avoided much of this misconception.  Most certainly a careful study of the te’amim (musical notation of the O. T. Scriptures)  and the Ugaritic notation would have proven precise written music notations long before the existing Greek fragments.,

            So, after much confusion, musicologists are now face to face with the fact that the notation of Bible music is authentic and that it is very ancient.  Music historians now realize that the Ugaritic notation is 1400 to 1500 years older than the Greek  musically notated  fragments found at Oxyrhynchos, Egypt and that Bible music notation is at least 3000 years old. Depending on when the te’amim were developed, written Bible music may be much older than the 3000 years date given by Stolba. (See The Development of  Western Music, K. Marie Stolba p. 5)

            Why all this fuss about music history?  The import of this discussion is simply that in the beginning God created music.  It is my belief that it is possible that, under  inspiration,  God revealed the te’amim to the ancient Bible authors who wrote both music and words as a unit or a musical melos. If musicologists and Christian authors who write on Church music would treat the Bible with respect , like Stolba has, they would have many more answers to music's beginning. 

 

The written Bible notation is without doubt musical evidence that demands our attention and respect.  Again, I want to say that music began when God created all things.  When Jehovah revealed it to mankind is still a mystery.  "For now we see through a glass darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part;but then shall I know even as also I am known."I Corinthians 13:12

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